308 Annual Report of the Consulting Chemist for 1886. 
i ^• 
II. 
III. 
IV. 
V. 
VI. 
VII. 
VIII. 
ou 
* Organic matter 
Phosphate of lime 
Alkaline salts, &c. 
Sand 
* Containing nitrogen 
Equal to ammonia 
7-30 
3-06 
39-45 
18-12 
31-32 
-75 
12-50 
4-87 
52-07 
10-59 
16-03 
3-94 
38 14 
7- 36 
16-02 
8- 61 
26-78 
309 
10-29 
7-76 
53-28 
17-51 
7-87 
3-29 
22-05 
8-63 
46-80 
13-23 
6-50 
2-79 
5-61 
9-20 
55-44 
12-52 
16-88 
•35 
12-55 
17-47 
51-84 
11-66 
4-89 
1-59 
15-57 
19-37 
54-36 
8-71 
110 
•89 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100 00 
100 00 
100-00 
100 - 00 
5- 74 
6- 97 
8-44 
10-24 
2- 75 
3- 34 
7-98 
9-69 
7-62 
9-25 
8- 01 
9- 73 
8- 09 
9- 83 
8-37 
10-16 
It will be seen that the oil varies from 3 per cent, to over 
19 per cent., though the existence of a relation noted by Mr. 
Hughes, between a high percentage of oil and the low quality 
of a guano as regards nitrogen and phosphates is not borne out. 
The presence of a large quantity of oil is no doubt bad, as re- 
tarding the decomposition of the guano, and it would be advi- 
sable, as Mr. Hughes says, to restrict the occurrence of it in 
quantity. 
Peruvian Guano. — For a considerable time Peruvian guano has 
been somewhat under a cloud ; much uncertainty has been felt 
with regard to its quality and condition, and the prices charged 
for it were very high when compared with those of other 
manures ; its use accordingly decreased. Towards the close of 
last year, however, in consequence of a new contract having 
been entered into with the Chilian Government, a great reduc- 
tion was made in the price of guano, and together with this 
came an improvement in its quality and mechanical condition. 
The purchaser can have now, at prices varying according to 
quality, genuine Peruvian guanos, which offer a wide range for 
selection ; these can be obtained in uniform condition and free 
from the stones that have previously proved so great a trouble. 
The manurial constituents of the guanos now being imported 
are obtainable at prices which are very similar in their cost to 
other manures in general use. 
Basic Cinder. — To this material, lately introduced into 
England, but which has been used for some time past on the 
Continent, a great deal of interest attaches. It is the slag 
obtained in the " Basic " or " Thomas-Gilchrist " process (intro- 
duced in 1879) for manufacturing steel from pig-iron containing 
phosphorus. This slag is highly calcareous and phospbatic ; 
for a long time it was treated as useless, but has of late been 
used on the Continent as a manure, it is said, with most favour- 
